Maiden flight launched for new route to Bangkok — round-trip fares start at just NT$7,300

Reported by Travel Center / Taipei

▲TransAsia Airways celebrates the inaugural Bangkok flight on March 15 with a water salute. (Photo provided by the airline)
TransAsia Airways launched its maiden flight to Bangkok on March 15. Two brand-new A330-300 aircraft have been put into service, connecting Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia through this transit hub.

The airline currently operates six routes to Japan. Passengers from Osaka can transfer in Taiwan to fly to Bangkok and arrive by evening, while other routes allow transfers to Singapore. Similarly, passengers arriving in Taiwan from Singapore flights in Southeast Asia can transfer to TransAsia’s early morning Japanese routes to destinations such as Osaka and Hokkaido, also bringing connecting passengers into Taiwan.

The Taoyuan to Bangkok route operates seven flights per week, with one daily departure. The outbound flight leaves at 4:05 p.m. and arrives in Bangkok at 6:55 p.m. The return flight departs Bangkok at 7:55 p.m. and arrives in Taoyuan at 12:25 a.m. After arriving in Bangkok, travelers can arrange separate connections to Europe or Australia. Group travelers can also easily experience Bangkok’s nightlife upon arrival. Business travelers can rest and be well-prepared for meetings the next day. On the return journey, group travelers gain an extra full daytime for sightseeing before taking an evening flight back to Taiwan.

Last year, TransAsia opened nine new destinations, including three cross-strait routes and six in Japan. Earlier this year, the airline launched the Taichung–Macau route, bringing the total number of domestic and international routes to over 50.

According to statistics from the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Taiwan saw a significant increase in outbound travel to Thailand in both December last year and January this year, with growth of 153% and 58% respectively compared to the same months last year. In January alone, bilateral travel between Taiwan and Thailand exceeded 35,000 passengers. With Thailand’s New Year — the famous Songkran Water Festival — approaching in April, which coincides with the peak tourist season, visitor numbers are expected to rise further.

To celebrate the inaugural Bangkok route, TransAsia is offering special promotional fares for the Taoyuan–Bangkok route. For 14-day travel tickets booked and flown before April 15, 2013, economy class round-trip fares start from a minimum of NT$7,300 (excluding taxes and fees). Booking is limited to economy class N fare, with a limited number of promotional seats per flight — available on a first-come, first-served basis.